Display device



Dec. 1, 1970 11 u v ETAL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1968 FEG THOMAS B. MULVEY ERNIE HEGERMAN ELWOOD V. SCHUESSLER INVENTORS United States Patent 3,543,425 DISPLAY DEVICE Thomas B. Mulvey, 73 SW. 1st Ave., Boca Raton, Fla. 33432; Ernie Hegerman, 6061 NW. 19th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33313; and Elwood V. Schuessler, 1301 SE. 7th St., Pompano Beach, Fla. 33060 Filed Aug. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 754,219 Int. Cl. G09f 11/24 US. CI. 40-86 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display device having a plurality of spools between which a message carrying area is displayed with means for insertion and removal of the device between upright support members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates in general to a display device and in more particularity to a display device which will provide a plurality of messages wound on spools and which may be mounted between two upright members to exhibit a selected message from those wound on the spools.

It is common in the art today for stores and the like which have large expanses of glass to paste or tape signs on the windows advertising their wares. Once the sign has outlived its usefulness it is removed, the windows are cleaned and a new sign is placed in position.

This method of advertising is not entirely satisfactory as the signs are applied directly to the glass of the windows. The tape or adhesive used is not always efiective, the signs droop and sag, the windows must be cleaned to remove the adhesive, installing and changing the signs is time-consuming. These are only a few of the reasons that this method of advertising is not satisfactory.

Description of the prior art There have been many signs or display devices pro posed in which a plurality of messages or pictures are rolled on a spool with means for rolling the indicia onto a second spool and having a message displayed between the spools. Examples of such devices are shown in US. Pat. No. 3,224,127, Pat. No. 3,316,668, Pat. No. 2,467,081 and Pat. No. 2,952,931.

To our knowledge there has not been a display device of this type in which the spools can be easily installed and removed from upright members such as window frames or mullions and which can be used with a plurality of different messages without removal of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of our invention to provide a display device which has a plurality of spools between which a message carrying area is displayed.

A further object of our invention is to provide a display device which may be easily installed and removed from support members such as window frames, etc.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a display device which may also be used as a window shade to cut down the glare from outside light.

Another object of our invention is to provide a display device wherein all the component parts may be produced and assembled quite easily by existing mass production methods and which, therefore, may be made readily available to the public at a reasonable cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display device which is sturdy in construction, relatively small in size, light in weight, economical in price, and relatively simple to manufacture.

3,543,425 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 "ice Further features, objects, and advantages will either be specifically pointed out or become apparent when, for a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following written description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to our invention installed in a window;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one of the spools of the display device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end of one of the spools illustrating a means for holding the sign in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a display device 5 is shown mounted in a window opening. The window is comprised of a pane 6 and mullions 7 and 8 between which pane 6 is secured.

Display device 5 is comprised of an upper housing 9 and a lower housing 10 which are substantially exactly alike. Housing 9 has a longitudinal slot 11 therein through which sign 12 extends and housing 10 also has a longitudinal slot 13 through which sign 12 extends.

Slots 11 and 13 extend throughout the length of the housings 9 and 10 and also into the ends 14, 15 and 16 of the housings. This is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3.

Housing 9 is attached by suitable means to support member 17 which extends between the mullions 7 and 8. Member 17 is provided with a smaller end section 18 which is slidably received in member 17 and is urged outwardly therefrom by spring 19. Spring 19 engages a stop member 20 within the inside of member 17 at one end thereof and engages resilient end cap 21 at the opposite end.

Resilient caps 21, 22, 23 and 24 are provided to prevent damage to the support members 7 and 8 and to also provide a frictional engagement therewith.

Within housing 9 is a shaft 25 upon which a plurality of messages may be wound. The shaft extends beyond the end members 14 and 16 and is provided with knurled knobs 26 and 27 at each end for turning the shaft in either direction. End members 14 and 16 are provided with an opening 28 which is in communication with slot 11 to permit removal of the shaft when desired.

To prevent the shaft 25 from moving out of opening 28 and to provide tension on sign 12 so that it gives an attractive appearance at all times, a powl 30 is held in position at each end of the shaft by means of spring 31. Stop member 32, attached to end 16, is provided for holding spring 31 and pawl 30 in place.

Housing 10 is provided with a support member 33 having a smaller telescoping member 34 and with resilient end caps 23 and 24. Knurled knob 35 is provided on the end of the message carrying shaft which fits into opening 29 in end 15 and is in communication with slot 13.

Housing 10 is provided with spring held pawls on the inside of each end thereof in the same manner as housing 9.

Operation of our display device is as follows: With the messages placed in a roll on shaft 25, member 17 is installed between mullions 7 and 8 by pushing member 18 inwardly against the spring 19 and releasing it so that resilient end caps 21 and 22 contact the mullions.

Housing 10 is installed in the same manner at a location below the housing 9.

The shaft may be removed from housing 10 by lifting knurled knob 35 and the knurled knob on the other end of the shaft upwardly so that the shaft moves from opening 3 29 and out through the slot 13. The bottom of sign 12 may then be attached to the shaft.

When the shaft to which the sign 12 is attached is replaced through slot 13 into opening 29 in end member the pawls 30 on each of the end members will seat itself on top of the shaft and springs 31 will prevent rotation of the shaft. As shaft in housing 9 is also held in position by spring-loaded pawls 30, by twisting the knurled knobs on each end of the shaft the sign may be stretched taut so that it will have an attractive appearance.

When it is desirable to change the particular message which is exposed, the knurled knob 35 may be turned to wind the sign 12 around the shaft and unwind it from shaft 25. Due to the way the shafts are held within the housings either one may be turned in either direction to expose the particular area on sign 12 the user may want.

In locations where the inside of the building is exposed to excess light from the outside the sign 12 may be replaced by a material which blocks out the light and still presents an attractive appearance.

When it is desired that the sign be moved to a new location the end members 18 and 34 may be pushed inwardly against the springs and support rods 17 and 33 may be lifted out. The installation at the new location would be the same as described above.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and material, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A display device comprising (a) a first spool member,

(b) a second spool member spaced from the first spool member,

(c) each of said spool members being adapted to have secured thereto one end of a flexible display web,

((1) each of said spool members having means on the end thereof for turning the spool members,

(e) each of said spool members having a housing member thereon,

(f) means secured to such housing member for individually removably mounting each housing between two upright supports.

2. A display device according to claim 1 with (f) means within each of said housing members for holding the spool members from rotation.

3. A display device according to claim 2 with (g) means in each of said housing members for permitting travel of a sign between the two spool members.

4. A display device according to claim 3 with (h) said means for mounting the housing members being adjustable to fit in different size window openings.

5. A display device according to claim 4 with (i) said means for mounting the housing members extending in substantially the same longitudinal directions as the housing members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 22,654 11/1914 Great Britain. 1,454,758 10/1966 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO III, Primary Examiner L. R. OREMLAND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

